High School Battle of the Drums 2022
Friday, November 25, 2022, the 10th annual High Schools Battle of the Drums was held at Independence High School in Independence Village, Stann Creek District: High Schools Battle of the Drums featured eight high schools from across Belize as follows:
- Stann Creek Ecumenical High School
- Delille Academy
- George Town Technical High School
- Independence High School
- Julian Cho Technical High School
- Toledo Community College
- Wesley College
- Maud Williams High School
The objectives of this event are as follows:
- Allow high school-aged youths to compete in a meaningful way while showcasing their talents in the expressive art of Garifuna drumming, singing, and dance;
- Provide a forum for high school-aged youths from different parts of the country to interact with each other while engaging in a positive cultural experience and environment;
- Generate funds that will be re-invested in the High Schools Battle of the Drums thereby making itself sustaining;
- Generate funds that will be used to pursue various Garifuna cultural retrieval projects in the participating high schools;
- Provide a talent pool that will provide future participating groups for the Annual (Adult) Battle of the Drums Competition and Show.
The winners of the High Schools Battle of the Drums are as follows:
1st Place – Independence High School who won $500.00, 1st Place medals, a pair of Garifuna Drum & a trophy valued at $800.00
2nd Place – Georgetown Technical High School who won $400.00 and 2nd Place medals
3rd Place – Delille Academy who won $300.00 and 3rd Place medals
Best Chumba Performance – Independence High School, who won $100.00
Best Wanaragua Dancer – Leroy Gonzalez from Ecumenical High School, who won $100.00
Best Sisira Player – Steven Valentine from Delille Academy, who won $75.00
Independence High School, Delille Academy, and Georgetown Technical High School tied for The Best Gayusa Group award. They will share $150.00 Other schools received consolation prizes of $200.00. All schools received $50.00 each for contributions to their uniforms. The High Schools Battle of the Drums is an activity under the Garifuna drumming, singing, and dance strategic objective of the Battle of the Drums Garifuna Cultural Retrieval and Preservation Initiative.
